Posted on 01/29/2010 3:21:07 AM PST by tcg
....In a beautifully written, theologically astute, historically significant and warmly pastoral letter written to the faithful of the Traditional Anglican Communion, Archbishop John Hepworth invites them to enter into full communion by following the Apostolic Constitution and Norms offered by the Holy See. He concludes his letter with this stirring summons:
“I believe with all my heart that this is a work of God and an act of great generosity by Pope Benedict. The Anglican tradition that we treasure will only survive, I believe, across the generations yet to come if it discovers the protection of apostolic authority. It is my cherished wish that each of us can stand at the altar with our fellow Christians and receive the same Eucharistic Christ. That is the ultimate test of unity. In the centuries since the church in the West became fractured there has been no offer such as the one that is now before us.”
When history records this moment, Archbishop John Hepworth of the Traditional Anglican Communion will be a vital part of the story. Men of prophetic stature are never perfect, they are humble and holy. They simply show a willingness to be perfected by the Lord whom they love. They allow the mistakes and difficulties of life to become the tutors of time. They respond in their brokenness to the invitation of history being written by the One who broke into history to transform it from within. Archbishop Hepworth has done that throughout this historic process....
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
“This is the beginning of a new missionary age and the coming reunion of the Church. Breathing with both lungs, East and West, she will lead us into the future.”
How beautifully put!
Until Catholics lose the language “welcome home” to non-Catholics, unity will never take place. Instead what is needed is a humble recognition that the Catholic Church, as much as any evangelical or mainline denomination, like a prodigal, has wandered far from “home.”
Once this recognition takes place, and this Pope might be the one to lead in that way, then unity will soon follow.
Together we will “Come home”.
I understand that this sort of language seems abrasive, but there’s a history here that needs to be taken into account. Our ancestors here in the West were all in the Catholic Church until the 1500s. The reverse was not true.
You could make a case perhaps that the Catholic Church strayed from the Bible. You can argue that it lost its way.
But you can’t make a case that it deliberately broke off from another body of Christians. It, and Orthodoxy, is the “home” of Christianity. It is the original body of believers who split from no one. It’s still sitting in the original family manor.
So even if it did stray, even if Luther and Cranmer and everyone else were *right* to leave it, the fact remains that they did leave it.
That’s why “coming home” is I think a good metaphor—it doesn’t mean you think “home” is perfect. It may have cobwebs and a leaky roof and a cracked foundation. It just means you recognize that it’s home. :)
That was wonderfully explained. Thanks! You have a gift for words.
You wrote:
“Until Catholics lose the language “welcome home” to non-Catholics, unity will never take place.”
Sorry, but that makes no sense. If someone is offended by “Welcome Home”, then unity is not their desire.
“Instead what is needed is a humble recognition that the Catholic Church, as much as any evangelical or mainline denomination, like a prodigal, has wandered far from ‘home.’”
So you want us to lie and pretend that the Catholic Church is no different than Protestant sects? We can’t do that. And those who desire reunion want it in truth, not falsehoods.
“Once this recognition takes place, and this Pope might be the one to lead in that way, then unity will soon follow.”
Unity is following anyway apparently. People who want unity with the Catholic Church want the Church to be Catholic. Those who say they want unity but they don’t want the Catholic Church to be Catholic can’t possibly know what unity really is. Also, this pope wrote Dominus Iesus. He’s not going to turn around and ten deny truths just to placate those who want a worldly unity rather than a Christian unity. Ain’t gonna’ happen.
“Together we will “Come home”.”
Some of us are already home. We want others to come home. We’re not going to lie to them to make that happen. What kind of a home would that be?
What is remarkable relating to this situation is the lack of mention of the historical anti-Catholicism on the part of the British evidenced throughout the centuries since the Reformation. The choice to forgive serves to facilitate the healing process notwithstanding the discrimination actively practiced against Catholics in this country and in England by the very group now entertaining union with Rome. If only the Eastern Orthodox could emulate the sanctity associated with forgiveness of perceived past injustices and others who fashion themselves as perpetual martyrs, then the world would be a better place.
Except that she hasn’t. Look if you want to be a wet blanket do it elsewhere.
what a nice thing to say...thank you!
“What is remarkable relating to this situation is the lack of mention of the historical anti-Catholicism on the part of the British evidenced throughout the centuries since the Reformation”
I can’t imagine why anti-Catholicism was so common in England after the Reformation. It’s not like the Pope issued a bull ordering English Catholics to disboey and seek the overthrow of their King/Queen or face eternal damnation. It’s not like the Pope ever called for a holy and sacred military expedition to invade and subjugate England. It’s not like terrorists tried to blow up Parliament in the name of the Roman Church. It’s not like the Roman Church acquired thousands of acres of tax-free English land for the purpose of enriching Italian aristocrats.
Of course, English Protestants weren’t always nice to Catholics. Just look at what Oliver Cromwell did to Irish Catholics. And of course, Henry VIII disposed of anyone, Catholic or Protestant, who got in his way.
The reality is that Anglicans and Catholics have put these reasons to hate each other behind them and are trying to move forward.
I understand the intention. I’m just pointing out what might be a blind spot, an unintended roadblock to unity.
I will say that I do believe that unity is taking place on many levels and at different paces in different cultures.
I live in the US and have good Catholic friends here and I’m actively working to support a growing neocat community in French Canada.
What's missing from your post is a timeline.
Let's say we were to have a discussion about the Muslim world and I stated that I could certainly understand why there might be anti-Americanism in the Muslim world. After all, we did invade Iraq and Afghanistan, displace hundreds of thousands from their homes and overthrow governments.
You would likely respond that first came a certain event called 9/11 which provoked said actions in an attempt to punish those responsible and to prevent further attacks.
There's a parallel here with England, post Reformation. First came the anti-Catholicism, then came certain responses to it, which may or may not have been justified. When Cranmer pronounced sentence of divorce between Henry and Catherine, the king then had Anne Boleyn crowned, and an Act of Succession was passed next year with a preamble and an oath to be taken by every person of lawful age. Parliament all submitted and took the oath, but More and Fisher refused and were sent to the Tower. Things climaxed in November, 1534, with the passing of the Act of Supremacy, which declared the king Supreme Head of the Church of England, this time without any qualification, and which annexed the title to his imperial crown. A reign of terror now began for all who were unwilling to accept exactly that measure of teaching about matters religious and political which the king thought fit to impose. Fisher and More had been sent to the block, and others, like the Carthusians, who rivaled them in their firmness, were dispatched for high treason. In virtue of this martyrdom these and many more are now venerated upon our altars as beatified servants of God. The rising in the North known as the "Pilgrimage of Grace" followed, and, when this dangerous movement had been frustrated by the astuteness and unscrupulous perjury of the king's representatives, fresh horrors were witnessed in a repression which knew no mercy. Previous to this had taken place the suppression of the smaller monasteries; and that of the larger houses soon followed, while an Act for the dissolution of chantries and free hospitals was passed in 1545. There then began a hostility to what would now be called "popish" practices.
The "Gunpowder Plot" of Guy Fawkes did not come along for over half a century later in 1605.
I wonder why?
Valid point — Vlad, Claud’s description/explanation is a lot better put!
In truth, the first Church is the Roman Catholic Church, founded directly by by Our Lord. The breaking apart started with the Eastern churches the 1000’s.
How did 16 and 17th century Protestant grievances enumerated in your response justify the the perpetuation of the anti-Catholic attitude of Brits until the end of the 20th century? The existence of legal overt discrimination against Catholics not removed until the 1832 , the potato famine of the 1845, the Easter Sunday rebellion of 1916, and the “Troubles” of N.Ireland lasting until the end of the 20th century are but a a mere mention of the consequences of English hatred towards Catholicism. Yet the Church is now welcoming this crowd, historically hateful towards Catholicism, to unification.Perhaps Islam will be the scourge that bring repentance to the Brits.
Indeed. Home is unity of faith and nowhere can that be found except by sitting at the same table as Peter. IN their resentment of the Curia, even many Catholics forget that truth.
Originally, anti-Catholicism was not as common as most people think. When Henry VIII replaced the Catholic Church with the Church of England it was not a popular decision with the people. The Church of England retained Catholic doctrine and practices in an attempt to soften the change. They say the Nicene Creed and have always thought of themselves as part of the one holy Catholic and apostolic church, just not in communion with Rome.
Only later, after a few generations and the rule of religious lunatics like Cromwell did England become rabidly anti-Catholic.
I truly believe this is happening and pray for it every day.
Here's the timeline!
Catholics, Protestants, and History (the faith of the early church)
“religious lunatics like Cromwell”
Cromwell’s people beheaded Archbishop Laud, and they actually dug up the body of Archbishop Matthew Parker (appointed to Canterbury by Elizabeth I) and burnied it in the street. Just lovely.
Anti-Catholicism in England was more political than religious. Catholics were loyal to the Pope, who was in league with continental powers that were hostile to England.
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